After Vote, Western Nations Lift Sanctions That Had Let Beijing Establish a Foothold

SUVA, Fiji—Western nations are moving to rebuild relations with Fiji as another regional power has claimed a bigger role in the picturesque island nation: China.

The U.S. told The Wall Street Journal Thursday that it was lifting sanctions it had placed on Fiji after a military coup in 2006 and indicated it would look at ways to work with Fiji’s military again. The move comes after Fiji held democratic elections last month and follows...